Transportation News

Visit the digital archive of the SMART-TD News (PDFs)

COVID-19 hits close to home: UP worker tests positive

Union Pacific has announced that a 50-year-old man that works in UP’s Bailey Yard in North Platte, Neb., has tested positive for COVID-19. The employee and a number of co-workers who came into contact with him are currently quarantined at home. It’s suspected that [...]

SMART-TD leaders urge action from FMCSA administrator

CLEVELAND, Ohio (March 18) — SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD) President Jeremy R. Ferguson and TD Bus Department Vice Presidents Calvin Studivant and Alvy Hughes sent a letter to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator Raymond Martinez urging the head of the FMCSA [...]

COVID-19: Emotional support services available to all

Watch a primer video about COVID-19 United Behavioral Health/Optum offer a free emotional support help line. The help line is available 24/7 and open to the public for as long as necessary, providing access to specially trained mental health specialists to help people manage [...]

TTD unions release principles for combating the COVID-19 health crisis

The AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department, of which SMART Transportation Division is a member, released the following on March 18, 2020: The people who build, operate and maintain our nation’s transportation systems are struggling, as are most Americans, with the scope and [...]

Attention bus members/retirees: Social Security offices closed to public

The Social Security Administration announced in a press release that effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, all local offices will be closed to the public. Below is the release. All local Social Security offices will be closed to the public for in-person service starting Tuesday, [...]

NOTICE: SMART-TD locals may cancel meetings for March and April 2020

March 17, 2020 In line with White House recommendations that gatherings of more than 10 people be avoided to counter the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, SMART Transportation Division Locals are advised they may cancel monthly meetings in March and April 2020. During this [...]

When two made a difference …

The incident last month in East St. Paul, Minn., where a two-person crew alertly stopped their train and rescued a 5-year-old girl who was wandering in the snow is just a single instance where having two on the crew has made a difference to the public. There are more instance [...]

UPDATED: RRB field offices closed until further notice

On behalf of Labor Member of the Board John Bragg, the following release was issued: On March 13, the President declared the COVID-19 virus outbreak a national emergency. While the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) employees continue to work both on-site and remotely, out of an [...]